Objective of the Game
The goal of Kardinal & König (also known as Web of Power) is to gain the greatest influence in the medieval kingdoms of Europe. This is achieved by establishing monasteries and deploying envoys to control power dynamics in kingdoms and regions to collect victory points.
Components
- A game board with a map of Europe divided into various regions (kingdoms)
- Monastery and envoy markers in player colors
- A set of cards representing the regions
- Victory point markers
Setup
- Prepare the board: Place the board in the center of the table.
- Distribute markers: Each player receives an equal number of monastery and envoy markers in their color.
- Shuffle and deal cards: Each player receives an initial hand of cards (according to the number of players).
- Determine the starting player
- Create draw pile: The remaining cards form a draw pile.
Gameplay
The game is played over several rounds until all cards have been used. Each turn consists of the following steps:
- Draw a card: Draw a card from your deck to maintain the set number of cards in your hand.
- Perform an action: Choose one of the following actions you can perform with the cards in your hand:
- Build a monastery: Play a card of the region and place a monastery in the corresponding region on the board.
- Deploy an envoy: Play two identical cards of a region to place an envoy in a kingdom influenced by the played region.
- Draw another card: Draw a card from the draw pile to replenish your hand.
Scoring Phases
There are two designated scoring phases in the game:
- Regional Scoring: Points for control of monasteries and the number of envoys established in regions.
- Power Establishment: Points for the majority of envoys in a kingdom.
Strategic Considerations
- Timing and Placement: Always consider when and where to best place your monasteries and envoys.
- Card Selection: Plan ahead and keep an eye on which cards other players might need.
- Majority Control: Aim to have a majority of markers in a kingdom or region, as this provides the most points.
Game End and Winning
The game ends when all cards have been played. Players sum up points from various scoring stages, and the player with the most points wins.
Balancing both short and long-term goals requires a mix of strategy and flexibility to succeed in Kardinal & König.
